Monday 29 / June / 2026
Paris: The Sultanate of Oman and the French Republic have emphasised the importance of developing investment relations between the two countries, highlighting the need to increase mutual investment in each country’s productive sectors. This was stated in the joint communique issued at the conclusion of the official visit of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to the French Republic.
The full text of the communique reads as follows:
“On 29 June 2026 His Majesty Haitham bin Tarik, Sultan of Oman, paid an official visit to France at the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic.
This first visit of His Majesty Sultan Haitham to France reflects the long-standing and trustworthy bilateral relationship between France and the Sultanate of Oman, established in the late 19th century, when the French consulate opened in Muscat in 1894.
His Majesty the Sultan and the French President held an official discussion session during which they commended the intensification of the bilateral contacts over the last year at all levels and emphasised their shared commitment to strengthening their comprehensive and forward-looking bilateral partnership in a variety of areas.
They welcomed the positive outcomes of the first strategic dialogue that took place in Paris on 14 April 2026 and of recent ministerial visits, including of the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs to Muscat on 1 May, which resulted in tangible progress in political, economic, defence and cultural areas.
His Majesty the Sultan and the French President opened the Franco-Omani business forum, which brought together more than 60 French and Omani companies. This event helped strengthen business relations between the two countries and led to the signing of major economic contracts in the fields of renewable energy, water, and aerospace.
Both sides commended the dynamism of the bilateral economic relations and expressed their wish to expand them further by enhancing bilateral trade and facilitating trade flows between the Sultanate of Oman and France. They reiterated their joint commitment to implementing projects of mutual interest, based on the long-standing presence of French companies in the Sultanate of Oman.
The two sides emphasised the importance of developing investment relations between the two countries, highlighting the need to increase mutual investment in each country’s productive sectors. This would be achieved through partnership opportunities provided by the Oman Vision 2040 and France 2030, particularly in the areas of renewable energy, hydrogen, maritime infrastructure, logistics, information technology, transportation, tourism, culture and the space industry. In this context, both sides welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Investment Promotion, agreeing to leverage it as a key executive instrument to operationalise these ambitions and facilitate concrete investment flows.
His Majesty the Sultan and the French President also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening their cooperation in the strategic sectors of civil aviation and space. To this end, they stressed the importance of signing a technical cooperation agreement between the French Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the Omani Civil Aviation Authority, a letter of intent and a memorandum of understanding on transports including cooperation in urban transport and metro system.
France welcomes also the partnership established between Oman and Airbus for the construction of Oman's first satellite and the partnership between CMA-CGM and Asyad Group to expand and integrate its logistics networks around the ports of Oman as well as the recently signed partnership between Oman and Suez for water management in the Greater Muscat, and the first milestone reached by EDF and Oman in developing pumped hydrostorage capacities in Oman.
The two sides praised the cultural cooperation between the two countries and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening Omani-French cultural and academic ties. They welcomed in this regard the signature of several agreements aimed at boosting collaboration in the cultural, scientific and academic sectors, including student and research mobility, archaeology, museology and health.
As far as the educational cooperation is concerned, they agreed that efforts will be made to increase the enrolment of all students who meet the admission requirements of the International French School of Muscat, in accordance with the procedures and regulations approved by the Ministry of Education in the Sultanate of Oman.
They also stressed the importance to increase student mobility to France within the framework of joint academic cooperation projects, including the establishment of a jointly funded mechanism involving public and private higher education institutions from both countries, the promotion of collaborative research projects, the development of dual-degree programmes, and the expansion of existing scholarship programmes for Omani students pursuing short and long-term studies in France, in line with the priorities of Oman Vision 2040.
They highlighted the importance of strengthening the teaching of the French language in the Sultanate of Oman through the expansion of the French language pilot programme in Omani public schools, the professional development of Omani French-language teachers, and the promotion of literary and academic translation as a means of fostering cultural and educational exchange.
They also welcomed the longstanding partnership between the Ministry of Education of the Sultanate of Oman and the Omani-French Centre in Muscat, which promotes educational and cultural cooperation between the two countries. They further acknowledged the Centre’s contribution to the teaching of French in Omani schools, the provision of language training opportunities, and the organization of student mobility initiatives, including the annual summer school programme in France for Omani students.
In the museum sector, they agreed to strengthen the exchange of expertise relating to the museum sector and to continue the joint efforts to open the Omani-French museum (Bait Faransa) “Maison de la France,” showcasing the longstanding historical relations between the two countries.
In the archaeology sector, they agreed to cooperate jointly in scientific research and to promote outcomes through academic publications in both France and the Sultanate of Oman.
As for scientific cooperation, both sides emphasized the importance of enhancing scientific cooperation in the field of Humanities through the activities of the French Research Centre of the Arabian Peninsula (CEFREPA) office in the Sultanate of Oman.
His Majesty the Sultan and the French President discussed bilateral cooperation in the field of defence and security. They lauded the quality of the bilateral military cooperation, particularly the integration of French equipment within the Omani armed forces, as well as conducting regular joint exercise of all forces and visits by French warships to different ports in Oman.
They stressed their joint commitment to enhancing their collaboration in key strategic areas, particularly maritime security and the fight against illicit trafficking.
In line with France's constant dedication to preserve maritime security and freedom of navigation in the region, including through the multinational naval deployments, the two sides committed to strengthening their cooperation in maritime intelligence, maritime surveillance, and the safeguarding of trade routes.
They agreed to finalise the work initiated in 2022 on the Agreement on the Exchange and Reciprocal Protection of Classified and Protected Information in the Field of Defence. They also agreed to finalise the agreement on information exchange between their respective military intelligence departments.
As for the regional and international landscape, the two leaders reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to sustained coordination and the intensification of joint efforts aimed at contributing to international peace and security. They underscored the imperative of supporting de-escalation across the region, advancing conflict prevention, and countering all forms of terrorism, as well as combating the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. In addition, they highlighted the critical importance of securing maritime routes and ensuring the freedom and safety of navigation in accordance with international law.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter and to multilateralism. They also underlined their commitment to the norms of international law, international humanitarian law and international maritime law. In particular, they reaffirmed their commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea which remains the legal framework for governing maritime spaces, including the Strait of Hormuz and the Sea of Oman.
The two sides reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to dialogue and diplomacy as means to resolve the crisis in the region, commending the constructive role of both countries in this regard, and highlighted the need to restore regional stability and security. They welcomed the Memorandum of Understanding agreed between the United States and Iran and their support to the ongoing negotiations aimed at reaching a long-term diplomatic settlement.
France welcomed Oman’s mediation on the nuclear issue as well as Oman’s efforts to resolve the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz. Oman welcomes France’s efforts to support a swift resumption of traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.
They emphasized the importance of reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and reaffirmed their commitment to free, unconditional, and unrestricted navigation, including the right of transit passage in accordance with the law of the sea. Both parties agreed to work collaboratively with all stakeholders to support freedom of navigation going forward.
They reiterated that lasting peace in the region can only be realized through a fair, comprehensive settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, based on the internationally agreed parameters. They reaffirmed in this regard their support for the implementation of the Two-State solution and the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, and for the establishment of an independent, sovereign, viable and democratic State of Palestine living side by side in peace and security with the State of Israel.
Both sides stressed the need to implement the New York Declaration for the implementation of the Two-State solution endorsed by 142 States in 2025 as well as the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict and the provisions of UN Security Council 2803 in its entirety, including the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip and maintenance of the ceasefire, in good faith and without delay.
Both parties reaffirmed their full support for the Presidential Leadership Council of the Republic of Yemen. They also agreed on the great importance of supporting all UN and regional efforts to achieve an inclusive and comprehensive solution to the Yemeni crisis. They recognized the strategic importance of the Red Sea regional stability for the global economy and the related importance of freedom of navigation as an international requirement.
Both sides expressed support for the effort toward the achievement of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine, in accordance with international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter. They reiterated the need to respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of states.
The Sultanate of Oman and the French Republic expressed their firm belief that their historical ties, shared commitment to international law and constructive dialogue between their authorities provide a solid basis for an ambitious, enduring and strengthened partnership.
His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik expressed his warm thanks to President Emmanuel Macron and the people of France for the friendly welcome and generous hospitality extended to His Majesty and his accompanying delegation during their visit to France. His Majesty also extended an invitation to President Macron to visit Oman.”
